Today, there are a plethora of Protestant denominations in the United States - indeed, the U.S. is the most religiously denominational country in the world. Why is that? This class will, in part, explore how theological, social, and cultural forces influence the development of religious movements, and vice versa.
We will begin with an historical look at the pre-reformation period, the reformation, and the post-reformation period to see how Protestantism began and developed. We will examine how the social, philosophical, and cultural factors associated with the medieval, renaissance, and enlightenment periods impacted different reformation movements. We will especially focus on religious revivalism and the Great Awakening in England and in the United States, because these movements were greatly influenced (some might even say "caused by") the philosophical changes that arose during the renaissance and enlightenment. In the American Colonies and later in the United States, religious tolerance was the norm. In England, religious tolerance was much slower in coming. As a result, American Churches were more diverse from the very beginning, and have fluorished as a result of the separation of church and state upon which our country rests, and the religious tolerance that came from the American revivalist movement.
The Oxford movement was one response to the evangelical movement, but it was also a direct response to Parliamentary action. This example points our very clearly how cultural, social, and political factors influence religious practice and beliefs. We need to remember this history, because in a way, we are reliving it today as issues of sexuality and the roles of women in the church are now discussed at light speed all over the world as a result of the internet and world wide communication webs. Social, economic, philosophical, scientific, and cultural factors influenced the development of Christian denominations, and will continue to do so. Indeed, the history of the evangleical and Oxford movements teaches us that the very fabric of our own Anglican Communion will change as it reformulates itself in view of new revelation and personal experience - two items highly prized by the 18th and 19th century evangelicals, and which still very much influence today.
The schedule of classes, the slide show presentations, and the handouts for each class are shown in the table below. Below the table is a bibliographic listing of some references to the evangelical and Oxford movements in England and America.
Date |
Class Period |
Topic |
Slide Show Presentation |
Class Handout |
February 15, 2009 |
1 |
A look at the pre-reformation cultural and social forces that moved the pendulum of religion toward Protestantism, and the Catholic response. | ||
February 22, 2009 |
2 |
The effect of the Enlightenment on denominationalism; The development of the Evangelical Movement in England and America; the Oxford response; and the resulting effects on the Episcopal Church from the 19th century until today. |
Bibliography
Carwadine, Richard. "Revivalism." In The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought. Adrian Hastings, Alistair Mason, Hugh Pyper, Ingrid Lawrie, and Cecily Nennett, Eds. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2000. pp. 622-623.
Chadwick, Owen. "Great Gritain and Europe." In The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity. John McManners, Ed. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1990. pp. 341-383.
Gilley, Sheridan. "Oxford Movement: In The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought. Adrin Hastings, Alistair Mason, Hugh Pyper, Ingrid Lawrie, and Cecily Nennett, Eds. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2000. pp. 505-506.
Moorman, John J.H. A History of the Church in England. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1980. pp. 338-361.
Prichard, Richard. A History of the Episcopal Church. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999. pp. 139-164.
Stephen Sykes, John Booty, Jonathan Knight (Eds.). The Study of Anglicanism. Minneapolis, MN: SPCK/Fortress Press, 1998. pp. 369-376.
Wainwright, Geoffrey. "Wesley, John and Charles." In The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought. Adrin Hastings, Alistair Mason, Hugh Pyper, Ingrid Lawrie, and Cecily Nennett, Eds. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2000. pp. 750-751.
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